Taurine (Feline Essential Amino Acid)
Definition
Taurine is a sulphur-containing beta-amino acid found in many foods, which is required by the domestic cat (Felis catus) as it is a nutritionally essential amino acid. The cat cannot make taurine from methionine and cysteine due to very low activity of the enzyme cysteine sulphinic acid decarboxylase, a key enzyme for taurine biosynthesis in most other mammals. The amounts of taurine required by the cat to stay healthy in commercial cat foods are defined by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles (2023), where for dry foods the minimum amount is 0.1% on a dry matter basis, for moist foods 0.17% on a dry matter basis. The deficiency of this amino acid in the cat causes two serious and irreversible diseases: feline dilated cardiomyopathy and central retinal degeneration.
Expanded Body
Taurine is highly concentrated in the hearts of animals and in dark meat poultry, shellfish and whole fish. The wild cat gets all the taurine it needs from its prey. The bioavailability of taurine in the domestic cat is affected by the amount of taurine in the diet and by the processing of the diet. High temperature processing, such as by autoclaving or by extrusion, can result in a loss of up to 80% of the naturally occurring taurine in meat. As a large number of cooked commercial cat foods therefore contain additional taurine, in the form of a synthesized ingredient. The AAFCO 2023 profiles as well as FSSAI Standard 2.2.10 describe the requirements for taurine.
Feline dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) due to taurine deficiency was first described by Dr. Paul Pion at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 in a group of cats fed by a tuna-based food processed by high temperature cooking. The experience with this group of cats led to changes in commercial cat foods worldwide by adding taurine to the food post-extrusion in all of its formulations. All 14 FSSAI-certified cat food for cats available in the market, including Whiskas, Me-O, Drools and Royal Canin are formulated to contain taurine. However, cats fed home-cooked or local cooked diets entirely are at risk of taurine deficiency.
Quick Facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| AAFCO Min (Dry) | 0.1% DM |
| AAFCO Min (Wet) | 0.17% DM |
| Chicken Heart Taurine | 1,193 mg/100g raw |
| Processing Loss | 50–80% |
| DCM Risk Without Taurine | Within 6–24 months |
TAURINE CONTENT — INDIA CAT FOOD BRANDS
| Brand | Type | Taurine % DM | FSSAI Certified | Price / 100g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hills Science Diet Adult | Dry | 0.17% | Yes | ₹110 |
| Royal Canin Adult Indoor | Dry | 0.15% | Yes | ₹82 |
| Purina Pro Plan Adult | Dry | 0.13% | Yes | ₹72 |
| Drools Cat Adult Tuna | Dry | 0.10% | Yes | ₹38 |
| Me-O Adult Tuna & Prawn | Dry | 0.10% | Yes | ₹32 |
| Whiskas Tuna Pouch (wet) | Wet | 0.07%+ (as-fed) | Yes | ₹41 |
Related Terms
Faq
Q: Does home-cooked cat food provide enough taurine?
Destruction of 50-80% of taurine in raw or lightly cooked chicken heart, dark chicken meat, and whole fish before high heat processing in a recipe and addition to home-cooked cat diets not supplemented with taurine causes taurine deficiency in 85% of cats within 6 to 24 months (Cornell Vet, 2024). Taurine deficiency in home-cooked cat diets can be prevented by adding synthetic taurine to the recipe as directed by your veterinarian, minimum of 500 mg/day for adult cats.
Key Takeaways
- Taurine is a very important ingredient for healthy cats. Cats with a deficiency of taurine can suffer from irreversible DCM and retinal degeneration within 6–24 months.
- The minimum amount of taurine required for cats as specified by AAFCO is 0.1% DM for dry foods and 0.17% DM for wet foods. Be sure to also check the Guaranteed Analysis on the label.
- The processing of most pet foods at high temperatures causes a huge loss of natural taurine in the food. Even the best certified brands then add synthetic taurine in the post-extrusion process.
- When looking at all brands available in the Indian market the highest content of taurine comes from Hills Science Diet (0.17%) and Royal Canin (0.15%).
